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GENERAL LAFAYETTE 



WILLIAM A . WILCOX 



GENERAL LAFAYETTE 

GENERAL LAFAYETTE. Lafayette once said that when he 

X A sketch prepared at the request of first heard of the quarrel between Eng- 

"^ .. TTT ^. 1 r\i 1 117^11- A land and the Colonies his heart was 

^ the Waterloo Observer by Wilham A. 

K enrolled in it. 

ty" Wilcox, member of the Waterloo Li- 

\i: ... He was nineteen years old and a 

VI - brary and Historical Society, for itS/--.- rr-. u •t»t.l- 

<^ -^ ■" Captain of Dragoons when in Metz, m 

issue reporting the dedication of the 1776, he attended a dinner given in 
Lafayette Monument and Park, Thurs- honor of the Duke of Gloucester, broth- 
day, June 8th, 1922. ^^ °^ the Enghsh king, who was in dis- 

favor at home because of his marriage. 

Marie Jean Paul Joseph Roch Yves At this b'anquet Lafayette heard defini- 
Gilbert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, tely of the Declaration of Independence 
was born some few leagues south of the and definitely resolved to tender his 
center of France on September 6th, assistance in the cause of liberal 
1757. He was of aristocratic birth, his government. He sought the American 
recorded lineage going half way back agent in Paris, Silas Deane, but was 
to the times of the Caesars, and as a discouraged. A series of disasters had 
boy he was page to the Queen. His spelled out the defeat of the cause, 
father, when only twenty-five years of Liberty was hopeless, but not to La- 
age, fell in the battle of Minden, in fayette. To him, if the cause seemed 
Germany, and his mother's death fol- hard pressed, he was the more needed, 
lowed hard after, leaving the young Nor could relatives and friends dis- 
Marquis an orphan at the early age of suade him. He concluded an arrange- 
thirteen and in possession of estates ni^nt with the American Ambassadors, 
yielding him an annual income of 200,- Silas Deane, Benjamin Franklin and 
000 livres, equivalent to $37,.500.00. Arthur Lee; purchased a vessel of his 

At sixteen he married, in the person own means, fitted her for the voyage 
of a lady yet younger than himself, and invited a few friends to join him. 
one of the most superlatively excellent The British Ambassador heard of the 
of the fair ones of all France, with an project and on his protest the French 
estate exceeding his own. She was government, nominally at least, sought 
Anastasie de Noialles. to stay the young enthusiast. The ship 

Her brother was one of that group was sent to a Spanish port; the Spanish 
of French nobility who sought refuge government opposed him, but neverthe- 
from the Reign of Terror in a settle- less with eleven companions he sailed, 
ment they founded on the Susquehanna British cruisers dogged both his de- 
River, a few miles below Tioga Point, parture and his arrival here, but they 
in Pennsylvania. There they had were eluded, and, closing a tedious voy- 
built, of logs it is true but dignified age of two months, he landed in South 
nevertheless, a grand house for the Carolina. When he set foot on x\meri- 
Queen, Marie Antoinette, who was un- can soil he resolved, it is said, to win or 
fortunately intercepted on her way to die here with the cause of liberty. He 
the coast and sent to the guillotine. ^^^ publicly honored at Charleston 



and hurried to Philadelphia. Of his 
arrival Ticnor says: 

"The sensation produced by his ap.- 
pearance in this country * * * "' still 
stands forth as one of the most promi- 
nent and important circumstances of 
the Revolutionary contest, and it has 
often been said, by one who bore no 
small ^p art in its trials and successes, 
none but those who were then alive can 
believe what an impulse it gave to the 
hopes of a population almost dishearten- 
ed by a long series of disasters." 

In a letter to the President of the 
Congress he tendered his services as a 
volunteer, without pay. He was given 
a commission as Major General, dated 
July 31st, 1777. Lafayette lacked than 
a month of being twenty years of age 
and spoke the Enghsh language but 
imperfectly. His appointment was ap- 
parently less seriously considered by the 
Congress than by the new officer. 

In the breast of the young patriot 
there burned an intense love of the 
liberty for which America struggled; a 
consciousness of aptitude and power and 
a determination to do and to die in 
behalf of that liberty and of humanity. 

Washington and Lafayette met first 
at a dinner party the day following 
the action of Congress. The wise com- 
mander, with a penetration that seldom 
failed him', quickly discerned the man. 
The affectionate intimacy between them 
then begun was never for a moment 
interrupted. The high military talent; 
the personal probity; the prudence; the 
energy; the chivalry; the ardor of the 
young man won the commander and all 
that the latter saw in him was abun- 
dantly justified. The day following 
Lafayette took up his mihtary abode at 
Washington's headquarters. 

Five weeks later, at Brandywine, the 



young Marquis saw service. The de- 
feated Americans were in retreat. He 
dismounted and entered the ranks, ral- 
lying the men, and received a leg wound 
of which he took note only when an 
aide told him of the blood running from 
his boot. The wound disqualified him 
for two months. 

On December first, at the request of 
Washington, the Congress passed a 
resolution advising that it would be 
highly agreeable to the Congress that 
the Marquis de Lafayette be given a 
separate command and Washington 
promptly assigned him to the command 
of a division. 

Barely twenty years of age he now 
found himself with a most honorable 
rank and command, purchased with his 
own blood, fighting to secure the inde- 
pendence of a strange people and 
against the enemies of his own. He had 
justified the boyish rashness which his 
relatives and friends deplored and his 
sovereign resented. He had begun the 
great work he was destined to do for 
his own France. His heart had formed 
reciprocal cleavage tp a friend who also 
was to be one of the world's immortals. 

He was sent to Albany for the com- 
mand of an expedition against Canada. 
While he waited there he put the Valley 
of the Mohawk in a state of defense; 
watched Arnold: sat on the court mar- 
tial that tried Andre; and developed 
evidence of and rebuked the despicable, 
treasonable cabal against Washington, 
the center of which was in a Board of 
War far more intent in overthrowing 
Washington than on winning indepen- 
dence. Lafayette joined the army at 
Valley Forge. He earned expressions of 
warmest approval from Washington for 
masterly service at Barren Hill and on 
June 28th fought with great gallantry 
at Monmouth and therefor received the 



Oift 



thanks of Congress. Here the commanc' turned to France. "This time he 
had belonged to Charles Lee, as senioi. came home one of the heroes of a noble 
He declined. Lafayette accepted it. conflict and fortified with the most 
Lee changed his mind; asked and re- flattering testimonials of his Command- 
ceived it back. Lafayette accepted tht er in Chief and from the Government 
demotion. Seeing a chance to attack he had served." France gave him the 
he rode to Lee and asked permission, same rank he had held in America and 
The reply was: "Sir, you do not know dated his commission from the surren- 
British soldiers. We cannot stand der of Cornwallis at Yorktown. His 
against them." Lafayette said: "It name was the occasion for acclaim 
may be so. General, but British soldiers wherever he went. He was cheered in 
have been beaten. At any rate I am the theatres. Crowds followed him in 
disposed to make the attempt." Per- the street^. Processions greeted him. 
mission was given and the attack was Civic honors were bestowed. Journey- 
made with vigor and with success until ing to one of his estates he was detained 
Lee ordered the retreat for which he for a week in Orleans alone, 
was court marshaled. He carried to his home this time a 

Lafayette borrowed money of Balti- plan for the wresting from Great 
more bankers on his own account to Britain of the Canadas. Lafayette was 
provide his soldiery with shoes, hats, the idol; liberty was the cause; America 
tents and pieces. Fresh hope and was the hope. The enthusiasm of 
doubled enlistments resulted. France spread to Spain. An expedition 

When early in 1778 war broke out of 60 vessels of the line and 24,000 
between France and England Lafayette troops was organized to sail from Cadiz 
asked leave to go home to consult the under his command. He actually led 
king. His welcome there was extraor- 8,000 men from Brest to Cadiz, but 
dinary. Nor was he idle. He enlisted instead of sailing he, in a letter sent 
the Count de Rochambeau and his from Cadiz February 5, 1783, gave to 
army of 6,000. the Congress its first news of the Treaty 

After six months Lafayette was here of Paris which ended the war. 
again. For two years he was charged ^ .^3 ^^t for us to tell here at any 
with the defense of Virgmia and was ie„gth of his noble career in his own 
credited by Washington with doing 10^^^ France, nor of his horrible suffer- 
all that was possible with the forces at ^^gs as a political prisoner for five 
his command. Lord Cornwallis wrote y^^^^ -^ ^^^ inhuman dungeon in Aus- 
of him: "The boy cannot escape me." ,^^^ ^hey are recounted in a book 
With superior strategy Lafayette caused ^f ^^ich two considerable editions were 
the proud Lord's retreat from place to p^^^^^ed by General Holstein, who did 
place until at Yorktown he was over- ^^^j^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ accompHshment of 
come. Lafayette personally command- the liberation of the prisoners from 
ed one of the assaulting parties. For Olmutz. The second edition was dated 
his honorable part in this final en- from Geneva College in 1835. But a 
gagement of the war our hero was pub- brief summary must be given, 
licly thanked by Congress. He was a member of the Assembly of 

Again, in January, 1779, Lafayette re- Notables in the National Assembly. 



He presented there a Declaration of In the Assembly, when a motion had 
Rights modeled on Jefferson's Declara- been made to demand the resigna- 
tion of Independence. He commanded tion of the emperor Napoleon, Lucien, 
a National Guard of 3,000,000 men. For brother of the emperor, denounced it as 
years his history was that of France, inconstancy and national ingratitude. 
The struggle between the expiring Lafayette arose and spoke from his 
monarchy and popular sovereignty be- place, not from the tribune. Three 
came big with the throes and horrors sentences defeated the vote. Lucien 
of the French Revolution. He caused bowed to Lafayette and sat down, his 
millions of his countrymen to take the speech unfinished. The words so effect- 
oath to live free or die. He protected j^g ^f ^^g General were: "The assertion 
and repeatedly saved the hves of the that has just been uttered is a calumny, 
royal family. He could and did speak ^jj^ ^^^^ jare to accuse the French 
defiantly to the King, demanding the nation of inconstancy to the Emperor 
preservation of the rights of the people; Napoleon? That nation has followed 
he could and did face the fury of vast his bloody footsteps through the sands 
hosts of angered thoughtless people, of Egypt and through the snows of 
When to be heard was hopeless he led Russia; over fifty fields of battle in 
forth Queen Marie Antoinette and kiss- disaster as faithfully as in victory; and 
ed her hand. Such was his influence it is for having thus devotedly followed 
that the cries changed to "Vive la him that we now mourn the blood of 
Reine," "Vive Lafayette." Then he three millions of Frenchmen." 
summoned forth one of the body guard ^^ ^-^^^ ^^^^^ having been establish- 
and embraced him. The answer came ^^^ Washington invited Lafayette to 
back from the mob: "Vivent du gardes- ^^^ Vernon. He arrived in New York 
corps." He on an occasion perilously ^^ August fourth. He reached Mt. 
interposed his own body at the mouth Vernon ten days later and remained 
of a cannon as the brand was swung to ^j^^^.^ ^^^j^^ blissfuf days. At Fort 
the priming. Schuyler he attended an Indian Con- 
When, in prison, terms were offered gress where his strong influence among 
him, but he disdainfully spurned any the tribes was manifest. His Indian 
that would compromise his rights and name was Kayewia. He went into 
duties either as a Frenchman or an New England, then once more to Mt. 
American citizen. Vernon. Virginia and Maryland each 
Napoleon tendered him the Cross of voted him citizenship. He took leave 
the Legion of Honor and he declined of Washington at Annapolis; of the 
it. President Jefferson offered to ap- Continental Congress at Trenton and 
Iioint him governor of Louisiana, then sailed from New York on Christmas 
recently acquired. To come here might Day, 1784. His reception everywhere 
seem an abandonment of his higher had left nothing to be desired, 
allegiance to the cause of constitutional Forty years later he came again and 
freedom in Europe and that might not for the last time. It was after his star 
l)e. He was the acknowledged chief of had risen and set again and again with 
the constitutional party, against ab- the vicissitudes of France. The appall- 
solutism, in the continent of Europe. ing French Revolution and the rise 



and fall of Napoleon had been near mont, Catskill, Hudson, Albany, Troy, 
him. He had suffered, as a political New York (again), Trenton, Philadel- 
prisoner in Austria for five years, in- phia, Baltimore, Washington, Mt. Ver- 
humanities that to us seem almost un- non, Yorktown, Richmond, Williams- 
believable, the while many of his rel- burg, Norfolk, Petersburg, Montpelier, 
atives, connections and friends went to Orange Court House, Fredericksburg, 
the guillotine. He had followed his Washington, Raleigh, N. C, Fayette- 
own beloved wife to her grave and ville, Cheraw, S. C, Cambden, Charles- 
had mourned the death of his foremost ton, Augusta, Milledgeville, Ala., 
friend, our own great Washington. His Macon, Ga., Montgomery, Mobile, New 
fortune had been swept away. He had Orleans, Baton Rogue, Nachez, Miss., 
labored earnestly and eflficiently in Kaskaskia, III, Nashville, Tenn., Louis- 
Europe for the new American Repubhc. ville, Ky., Cincinnati, Wheeling, Union- 
Through all these years he had so hved town, Pa., Braddock's Field, Pittsburgh, 
that there was almost nothing of which Erie, Buffalo, Niagara, Lockport, Roch- 
he could reproach himself. Curs had ester, Syracuse, Schenectady, Rome, 
nagged his heels in America and in Utica, Boston, Bunker Hill (where he 
France, as they had nagged Washing- laid with Masonic ceremonies the cot- 
ton. It is part of the price of leader- ner stone of the monument and heard 
ship in devotion to high ideals. Others Webster's notable oration), then into 
than these have had to pay it. New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New 
He came on his last visit to us as ^^^^^^ ^ity, Philadelphia, Germantown, 
the guest of the nation. Few happier Brandywine, Lancaster, Baltimore and 

. u • 1 J it, t Washington. In Washington he took 

events are chronicled on the pages of * 

, . . T- -i r farewell of the President, passed down 

history. irue it was many faces were *^ 

. . „ .Lu 1 • e the Potomac by boat to the ship that 

missing. He was the sole survivor ot -^ *^ 

., 1 m u u J bore him home. He sailed homeward 
the general officers who has served 

, „r , . . Ti ,. T ff September 7th, 1825. 

under Washington. But Jefferson, '^ ' 

nr Tu Aj jTi.i\/r From Buffalo to Rochester he jour- 
Monroe, John Adams and John Mar- •' 
, ,, . ,• J 4.U u neyed by the Erie Canal. The follow- 
shall were yet alive and those who -^ 

,j 1 ™- • i-i r J ing, quoted from the journal kept by 

could speak reminiscently of camp and *^' ^ •' f j 

, .., ^4. t J 4-u i-u the Secretary, covers the route between 

I)attle were not a few and the growth •" 

r ., e* 4- u 1 jj J 4. -1 Rochester and Syracuse: "He left the 

of the new States had added ten mil- ^ 

lions of new grateful hearts and all ^^"^ ^^ Rochester, passed a few hours 

gave him proud welcome. The party ^'^^ ^^^ inhabitants of that town, who 

consisted of General Lafayette himself; ^^^^ ^'"^ ^ reception which, in affec- 

his son, George Washington Lafayette ''"^ ^"^ elegance fully equalled any 

(who was a graduate of Princeton); that I have hitherto witnessed, and con- 

his Secretary, M. Auguste Levasseur; ^^""^^ ^is journey by land, passing 



and a servant, Bastien. They landed 



through the villages of Canandaigua, 

Geneva, Auburn, Skaneateles, Marcel- 
at Staten Island on August 25th, 1824, , . j • • j ... , ^ 

' lus, etc., and rejoined the canal at 

and visited New York, Boston, Cam- Syracuse. This journey confirmed us in 
bridge, Charleston, Bunker Hill, Ports- the opinion that no part of America, 
mouth, N. H., New York (again). West or, perhaps, of the whole world, con- 
Point, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Cler- tains so many wonders of nature as the 



State of New York. The lakes of 
Canandaigua, Seneca and Cayuga, ap- 
peared delightful to us from the purity 
of their waters, the forms of their 
basins, and the richness of their banks. 
The sight of all these beauties and still 
more the kindness and urbanity of the 
population through which we travelled, 
often made General Lafayette regret 
the rapidity with which he travelled. 
During this journey of upwards of one 
hundred and thirty miles by land, we 
travelled night and day only stopping 
for a few moments at each village, to 
enjoy the entertainments prepared by 
the inhabitants in honor of their belov- 
ed guest, who, said they, by the simpli- 
city, the amenity and uniformity of his 
manner toward all classes of citizens 
completed the conquest of all hearts, al- 
ready devoted to him from his adher- 
ance to the cause of America in parti- 
cular, and that of liberty in general." 

It was on June 8th, 1825, that 
Lafayette came to Waterloo. He was 
escorted by a large company of citizens 
and a local troop of cavalry command- 
ed by Captain Lemuel W. Ruggles, 
which met him at Geneva. At the 
corner of West Main street and the 
Park, which is hereafter to bear his 
name, on the site of the residence of 
Charles A. Genung stood the large three 
story frame building known as the 
Waterloo House. A band of music oc- 
cupied a balcony of the hotel and play- 
ed appropriate tunes. Cannon boomed 
and bells rang. The stay was brief, 
but sufficient for the population to pay 
him their respects. Prominent here, 
as throughout his journeys, were the 
Revolutionary soldiers and the Masonic 
fraternity. 

Waterloo, as well as other places 
visited, has been neglectful in not pre- 



serving more of the detail of the re- 
ception held that day. Doubtless there 
were incidents here not unlike the fol- 
lowing incident: 

During the reception in Boston there 
appeared a sentry in his original Con- 
tinental uniform with a small blanket, 
or piece of blanket, on his shoulders 
and with his ancient musket which had 
seen service on many fields. He ap- 
proached the nation's guest and made 
the stiff salute of the days of the old 
war. Lafayette returned the, salute 
and then spoke affectionately to the 
soldier, his eyes dimming as the memo- 
ries suggested by the uniform, the mus- 
ket and the figure crowded upon him. 

Sentry: "Do you know me?" (Fifty 
years had passed). 

Lafayette: "Indeed I cannot re- 
member you." 

Sentry: "Do you remember the 
frosts and snows of Valley Forge?" 

Lafayette: "I can never forget 
them." 

Sentry: "One night as you went 
your rounds you cam^ upon a sentry illy 
clad, in shoes of raw cowhide and no 
stockings, on the point of perishing with 
the cold. You took the sentry's 
musket; told him to go to your hut, 
put on a pair of stockings he would 
find there, warm himself and bring to 
you the blanket from there. On his re- 
turn you cut the blanket in halves and 
gave the sentry one. This is that half 
blanket, I am the sentry whose life you 
saved and this is the musket you held." 

In Savannah, Georgia, Lafayette 
laid with Masonic ceremonies the corner 
stones of two monuments. One to 
General Greene and the other to Count 
Pulaski. At that for General Nathaniel 
Greene he used these words that will 
add rather than detract from the fame 



of General Greene if we borrow and wisdom or patriotism. No church has 

apply them to Lafayette himself. He any monopoly of the virtue of the peo- 

said: "The great and good man to pie nor any patent on religion. There 

whose memory we this day pay a tri- is much bad in the best of us and 

bute of respect, of affection and pro- good in the worst of us. It may have 

found regret, acquired in our Revolu- been Lafayette was influenced by the 

tionary war a glory so true and so pure ages long contests between his land and 

that even now the name of Greene re- England, but what a passion was his for 

calls all the virtues, all the talents, constitutional government and it was in 

which can adorn the patriot, the states- England that constitutional government 

man and the General." developed and the written charters and 

We have seen our hero coming a constitutions of America have been 

youth of nineteen. Now he looked but logical steps forward by English 

hngeringly back from outside the capes colonies. 

at Hampton Roads, a man of 67 years. What a varied group have been our 
Ten years more he lived at home and enthusiastic noble compatriots in liber- 
then went peacefully beyond the veil, ty's cause — Lafayette, Rochembeau and 
He died, surrounded by children and de Noaiiles are but the a, b, c of a long 
friends, in the early morning of May alphabet of Frenchmen; Baron de 
29th, 1834. Kolb and Baron Steuben were Ger- 

Lafayette was, it may fairly be claim- ^^ns; Kosciuszko was a Lithuarian 

ed, next to Washington the person P^^e of Russia; Count Pulaski was a 

who did most for American Indepen- ^°^^> Kossuth was a Hun; Carrachi, 

dence, for he brought to our assistance °^ Italy, and Houdon, of France, came 

the armies and fleets and treasuries and *« show forth Washington because they 

credits and diplomacy of France. loved Liberty. We are Huguenots and 

„,, T r ^^ , 1 r Scotch, Indians, Sweeds, Syrians, Jews, 

Wherem was Lafayette s love of , ^ , ' , , 

..-,„, ■ -i r ^^ Greeks, Welsh, Irish, Spaniards, Black, 

America? ihe answer is, Lafayette 

, ^ J . J • i- i- 1 White, Yellow, Catholic (Lafayette was 

hated oppression and instinctively 

^ ^, , r r , • 1 ^ a Catholic), Puritan, Cavalier, Cre- 

sprang to the defense of human rights. 

™, . ^, ^ ,1- ^- r !-• ole. If we are to live on it must be 

1 hat was the controlling motive of his 

,./• TT 1^ L t. through the dominance of the love of 

life. He was unselfish; he was pure; '^ 

, 11. t-- 1 L liberty and independence and the hatred 

he was loyal; he was chivalrous; he was 

jf . , 4.U • <- u of oppression, 

steadfast; he was an enthusiast; he ^^ 

had dauntless courage and high purpose, While human rights endure Lafayette 
but chiefly and always he loved hber- will be remembered with Washington 
ty and the rights of man as man. and Lincoln. He is, moreover, one of 
Some other Frenchmen came from like the most lovable characters of history, 
motives; others for love of glory or ad- It is short-sightedness to speak of 
venture or pay. He is very short- Lafayette as our friend; as having help- 
sighted who condemns in general terms ed us win our War of Independence, 
any class in race or faith or politics. Assuredly he was our friend. But 
By their works ye shall know them and more than that he "belonged." $200,000 
not by the circumcission. No land or and a township of land were not pay. 
political party has any monopoly of They were but recognition of some- 



thing that essentially was, just as was 
the tender of the governorship of a ter- 
ritory now comprising a dozen states, 
and citizenship to him and his heirs in 
two states. 

Pie did help. He not only came; he 
enlisted with us that soul of France 
that at Verdun enforced the decree that 
militaryism should never pass. He was 
more than friend; more than helper. 
Just as in this late war we fought on 
the soil of France for America, so here 
Lafayette and his compatriots fought 
for France. 

In every crisis some personality 
stands forth. In the Reformation it 
was Luther; in the Commonwealth it 
was Cromwell; in the Independence of 



the Colonies it was Washington; in the 
Treaty at Versailles and its resultant 
League it was Wilson; in the Limitation 
of Armament it is Hughes; in National 
Isolation it is Borah. So in the cause 
of human rights as against absolu- 
tionism in government in Europe, as 
well as in the new world, Lafayette was 
outstanding. 

Waterloo honors itself in treasuring 
the memories of its past. This whole 
region is not only of surpassing beauty 
but is rich in historic association. 
Nothing more effectively builds pa- 
triotism and character than dwelling 
with sympathy on such things. Seneca 
Lodge in instituting this occasion serves 
Waterloo and state and nation. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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